Islamists planned Attacks across Europe

[Mr Cancun]

MADRID (Reuters) - Islamist extremists were planning attacks across Europe, especially against public transport, before their arrests in Barcelona last weekend, a Spanish paper reported on Saturday, citing a would-be attacker's testimony.

The Al Qaeda-inspired cell planned to attack the Barcelona metro and other targets in Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom, said the bomber turned police informant.

Islamists planned attacks across Europe: report | International | Reuters

Why would they attack Spain & Portugal ? Spain ran away from the war with their tails tucked between their legs?

[Andiline]

They already did attack Spain. There were bombs in commuter trains in Madrid in march 2004 which killed nearly 200 persons.

[Joana]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

MADRID (Reuters) - Islamist extremists were planning attacks across Europe, especially against public transport, before their arrests in Barcelona last weekend, a Spanish paper reported on Saturday, citing a would-be attacker's testimony.

The Al Qaeda-inspired cell planned to attack the Barcelona metro and other targets in Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom, said the bomber turned police informant.

Islamists planned attacks across Europe: report | International | Reuters

Why would they attack Spain & Portugal ? Spain ran away from the war with their tails tucked between their legs?

Spain did not run from the war with their tail between their legs but the troops were pulled after the attacks in Madrid which Andiline mentioned led to a different party then the old one that had sent troops to Iraq winning the elections.
The public in Spain (like in Germany) had been protesting against going to Iraq from the beginning- but the politicialns of the party in power then chose to go.
So after those attacks the politicians were under pressure to remove the troops as the public was more than unhappy after what happened- and showed their unhappiness and their unwilingness to be in the war by a landslide election.

It was a case of politicians withdrawing troops that the public in their country never wanted them to send in the first place.

HERE is a BBC article about that.

And why Portugal- simple: because it is a Western country AND because it has troops in Iraq. As you can see from the listing HERE.

[Mr Cancun]

I remember that but Spain held elections and pulled troops away from middle east. I thought they would be safer now to distance themselves from the US.

[Joana]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

I remember that but Spain held elections and pulled troops away from middle east. I thought they would be safer now to distance themselves from the US.

By fighting terror any country that takes part on whatever level is a target- from the beginning for the extremists it has been about them vs. the West and not them solely agains the US.
Spain and Portugal both have been involved in Iraq and in tracking down terrorists- so they are targets just as much as any western country. As the Madrid-bombings have proven.

We had a terror alert not too long ago here in Germany- that terror alert resulted from arrests that were made a while ago, when terrorists placed bombs (that luckily didn't go off) in commuter trains in Cologne.
Had those attacks taken place they would have been revenge for Germany trialing and sending to prison those terrorists.

[Mr Cancun]

I read somewhere recently (last couple of weeks) that Portugal intercepted some al Qaeda chatter about maybe attacking the Eiffel Tower. Wish I could remember where I saw that.

[Joana]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

I read somewhere recently (last couple of weeks) that Portugal intercepted some al Qaeda chatter about maybe attacking the Eiffel Tower. Wish I could remember where I saw that.

Haven't heard about it but then I haven't payed close attention to the news recently- no time.

Fact is in the end that it is just a matter of time until the next bomb goes off somewhere in Europe- on that all agree.........unfortunately.

[Mr Cancun]

Here is a link, not the original story that I read though.

Portugal intercepts threat message against Eiffel Tower

[Andiline]

Now I know why in Paris they are on such high terror alert. Thanks. Hadn't read about the intercepted conversation but this week I saw many, many troups patrolling in La Defense (which is the french counterpart to Downtown New York) and I've been told that they were on high terror alert in La Defense and the Eiffel Tower. When I was there in early december I didn't see all those patrols.

[Mr Cancun]

I really do think that Europe is doing an outstanding job starting to catch these groups before anything else bad happens, bravo to your police and all security groups involved in catching those cells.

[StephenB]

Hmmm....it's Sunday. Should I take today off from my usual bashing???

[Mr Cancun]

Jump right in Stephen. I am out of ammo !!

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

Jump right in Stephen. I am out of ammo !!

You started so promisingly but your staying power didn't match your desire: advice from me (sorry to sound so presumptious, but you must admit I'm worth something at this funny old game): first get real, verifiable facts you can base the instigating on, otherwise - as you've realised - you're doomed to failure.

[MaripositaII]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

MADRID (Reuters) - Islamist extremists were planning attacks across Europe, especially against public transport, before their arrests in Barcelona last weekend, a Spanish paper reported on Saturday, citing a would-be attacker's testimony.

The Al Qaeda-inspired cell planned to attack the Barcelona metro and other targets in Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom, said the bomber turned police informant.

Islamists planned attacks across Europe: report | International | Reuters

Why would they attack Spain & Portugal ? Spain ran away from the war with their tails tucked between their legs?

And the US charged in where they had no right? Is that better?

[StephenB]

Joana had it right when she said these a-wipes will stirike again (paraphrasing here), it's just a matter of time. I agree Europe has done a fine job in keeping vigilant. Their backyard is fertile terrortorty.